Making Connections 2

Making Connections: Foundations for Algebra, Course 2 is the second of a two-year sequence of courses designed to prepare students for a rigorous college preparatory algebra course. It uses a problem-based approach with concrete models. The course helps students to develop multiple strategies to solve problems and to recognize the connections between concepts. The lessons in the course embed the “Mathematical Practices” of the Common Core State Standards released in June 2010. Read More...

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

Analyze data using measures of central tendency.

Represent data sets using various methods and analyze how changes in data impact the representation.

Model integers and operations with integers including order of operations.

LESSON STRUCTURE

The course is structured around problems and investigations that build conceptual understanding of these topics and an awareness of connections between different ideas. Students are encouraged to investigate concepts, communicate their thinking and generalize. Read More...

Lessons are structured for students to collaborate actively by working in study teams. During class time, students work in study teams on challenging problems that introduce new material. The teacher provides guidance as needed and helps to consolidate topics. The homework in the “Review & Preview” section of each lesson reinforces previously introduced skills and concepts and prepares students for new ones.

The homework problems also allow students to apply previously-learned concepts and skills in new contexts and deepen their understanding by solving the same type of problem in different ways. CPM offers open access homework support at the website www.cpm.org/students/homework and also provides teachers with the answers to problems. There are extra practice resources and a parent guide at www.cpm.org and in booklet form. Read Less...

COURSE STRUCTURE

Chapters are divided into sections that are organized around core topics. Within each section, lessons include activities, challenging problems, investigations and practice problems. Teacher notes for each lesson include a “suggested lesson activity” section with ideas for lesson introduction, specific tips and strategies for lesson implementation to clearly convey core ideas, and a means for bring the lesson to closure. Read More...

Core ideas are synthesized in "Math Notes" boxes. These notes are placed in a purposeful fashion, often falling a couple a lessons after the initial introduction of a concept. This approach allows students time to explore and build conceptual understanding of an idea before they are presented with a formal definition or an algorithm. "Math Notes" boxes include specific vocabulary definitions and instructions about notation, and occasionally interesting extensions or real-world applications of mathematical concepts.

Technology is integrated throughout the course to allow students to see and explore concepts that lend themselves to this approach. Ideally, classes would have access to a computer lab with computers for pairs of students. This dynamic tool will provide students with a deeper understanding of the concepts involved. A classroom computer equipped with projection technology would suffice but not allow students to explore individually. Students need access to a scientific calculator.

Learning Log reflections appear periodically at the end of lessons to allow students to synthesize what they know and identify areas that need additional explanation. Toolkits are provided as working documents in which students write Learning Logs, interact with Math Notes and create other personal reference tools. Read Less...